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THE ELVES OF MOUNT FERN 

KATHERINE CREIGHTON 








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The 

Elves of Mount Fern 


BY 

KATHERINE CREIGHTON 
Author of ^‘Nature Songs and Stories/’ 
“Nature Sketches/’ etc., etc. 



Publishers DORRANCE Philadelphia 



Printed in the United States of America 



StP -9 /922 


©Ci.A683265 


•VO I 


To 

lovers of fairies 
everywhere 

I dedicate this book 
and to 

the wonderful “little people” 
who helped Cinderella, Prince Prigio and countless 
others overcome great difficulties 
in the Giant World 


K. C. 







CONTENTS 

Chapter Pagre 

1 The Elves of Mount Fern 11 

2 The Lawn Party 26 

3 The Ball 41 

4 Emily’s Birthday 57 

5 The King of the Elves Visits 

Mount Fern 83 



THE ELVES OF MOUNT FERN 


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THE ELVES 

1 

The Elves of Mount Pern 

The Elves are the dearest and most 
mischievous little people in all the wide 
world. 

They live in Elfland, and Elfland can 
he found in every corner of the globe. 
They take up their abode on wooded hill- 
sides, beside murmuring streams, or in 
deep, leafy forests. In the dead of night, 
when all the world is still, they steal forth 
from their dwellings and start on their 
merry midnight rounds. They dance in 
the moonlight on soft dewy lawns under 
wide-spreading trees. They visit their 
neighbors and friends among elves, and 
their neighbors and friends among men. 

The Elves can see and not be seen ; they 
can hear and not be heard; and are so 
11 


12 The Elves of Mount Fern 


light and nimble in their movements that 
they can float through the air like a leaf 
in the wind. 

Once upon a time there was a company 
of Elves that lived in a stone wall. They 
had left their home in the forest glade for 
a season in the Giant World, as they 
called our world*— because it seemed so 
big to them. 

While they were wandering about in 
search of a place to settle, they came upon 
a hole in a stone wall that exactly suited 
them, it was so snug and comfortable. 
The Elves were very much delighted and 
at once decided to make their home there. 

The wall belonged to Dr. Templeton. 
He liked privacy, and so he had this high 
stone wall built all around his garden and 
grounds. 

But Dr. Templeton’s gardener was very 
lazy and careless, and when some stones 
fell out of the wall, he simply rolled them 
over the bank. That was easier, he 
thought, than mending the wall; and, 
besides, the wall was so very thick that 


The Elves of Mount Fern 13 

a few stones more or less did not matter 
in the least. 

The Elves thought it was very fortu- 
nate for them that the gardener was so 
lazy and careless, and promised them- 
selves a gay good time with a season in 
the Giant World. 

The members of this company of Elves 
were: 

Captain Featherweight, the head of the 
company. 

Rainbow, master of ceremonies. 

Rhymo, the poet-elf. 

Tono, the music-elf. 

Lightning, the messenger-elf. 

Iris-wing, the flower-elf. 

Touchstone, the jester. 

Owly, the wise one. 

Slumber, the dream-elf. 

After the Elves had made a tour of all 
the grounds around Templeton Hall, their 
Captain called them together to decide 
upon a name for their new home. 

^^Let us call our new home ^Scale- 
Cliff’,’^ said Tono, the music-elf. 


14 The Elves of Mount Fern 


very pretty idea,’’ said Eainbow, 
^^but don’t you think ^Eocklight’ \vould 
be prettier still?” 

^Eocklight’ won’t do at all,” said 
Slumiber, the dream-elf, because it sug- 
gests wakefulness— so I propose that we 
call it ‘Slumber-Nest’ instead.” 

“Can’t you think of anything but 
dreams and slumber?” asked Iris-wing, 
the flower-elf. “I wouldn’t live in a place 
with a name like ‘Slumber-Nest’, and so 
I move that we call our new home ‘Eose- 
Bower.’ ” 

“Pooh! pooh!” said Owly, the wise one, 
“ ‘Eose-Bower’ suggests a garden, and a 
garden isn’t a house, so I think you’ll all 
agree with me that ‘Stone- Wall-Gap’ is 
much more appropriate.” 

“We don’t agree, Owly,” said several 
of the Elves at once. 

But here Captain Featherweight called 
the meeting to order, and ended all dis- 
pute by declaring that the name of the 
new home should be ‘Mount Fern’, be- 


The Elves of Mount Fern 15 

cause there was a fern growing just below, 
at the foot of the wall. 

As a rule, the Elves lived in peace and 
harmony, and they adored their Captain. 
His word was law, and when any disputes 
arose he always acted as judge. 

After the name of the new home had 
been decided upon. Captain Feather- 
weight gave each elf his work to do in its 
arrangement and furnishing, and in a 
very short time it was all in perfect order 
and ready to live in. 

The Captain was very much pleased, 
and complimented his Elves on their abil- 
ity to do their work well and quickly. 

And since our house is now all in per- 
fect order,’’ said the Captain, ‘^let us have 
some music to celebrate the event. Tono, 
will you please sing something for us?” 

‘^With pleasure,” answered Tono. 
‘‘What would you like?” 

“I leave the selection entirely to you,” 
said the Captain. 

Then Tono, who was leader of the elfin 
choir, played and sang : 


16 The Elves of Mount Fern 

Twinkle, twinkle, firefly bright. 
Through the dark and cloudy night. 
Floating gaily in the air. 

Here and there, and everywhere. 

^^How your cheerful little gleam. 
Joyful makes the darkness seem. 
Where you flit no elf is sad. 
Twinkle, twinkle, firefly glad.” 

“I don’t see why you should sing that 
now,” said Owly. ^Ht isn’t the least bit 
appropriate; the fireflies are not twink- 
ling and won’t be for some time to come 
if we can judge by the look of the sky.” 

‘Hsn’t that just like Owly?” said Slum- 
ber. 

^‘You are always so literal, Owly,” said 
Rhymo. Don’t you know that fact 
hasn’t half as much to do with music and 
poetry as fancy?” 

^‘Just the same,” said Owly, ‘‘I think 
‘Our New Home’ would have been much 
more appropriate. ’ ’ 

“Why can’t you be more agreeable. 


The Elves of Mount Fern 17 

Owly?’’ asked the flower-elf. Anything 
is appropriate when you’re happy, and 
besides, Captain Featherweight left the 
choosing to Tono, and why shouldn’t 
you?” 

‘‘The music was beautiful,” said Cap- 
tain Featherweight. “I always love to 
hear about the gay little flreflies. But 
look at the pink in the east ! That means 
that the King of Day is coming over the 
hills in his chariot. To rest! To rest.” 

Then the Elves of Mount Fern lay down 
on their soft little beds of leaves and moss, 
and slumbered till starlight again. 

The Elves always begin their da/y in the 
evening instead of the morning, so that 
what is early for them is late for us, and 
what is early for us is late for them. 

Every evening as soon as the stars 
peeped out of the sky. Captain Feather- 
weight always gave the command : 
“Eight! Left! Shoulder arms!” This 
simply meant, “Get to work,” and was 


18 The Elves of Mount Fekn 

the signal for every elf to be about his 
business. 

All night long the gay little Elves were 
as busy as bees, but no matter where they 
were or what they were doing, they always 
came back to Mount Fern before sunrise, 
and rested till starlight again. 

The next evening Captain Feather- 
weight gave his usual command and every 
elf began to work. 

Iris-wing, the flower-elf, scampered 
lightly down the fern ladder and went 
about his business in the garden. Al- 
though all the Elves loved the flowers, he 
was the one who took most care of them, 
and so the other Elves called him “Iris- 
wing, the flower-elf.” 

As he wandered about from flower to 
flower he whispered to each a word of 
good cheer. The tulips and daisies were 
all fast asleep and heard not a word that 
he said, but the roses were as wide-awake 
as in broad daylight, and they bowed to 
the flower-elf and said: “We’re watch- 
ing the Queen of Night climbing over the 


The Elves of Mount Fern 19 

tall stone chimneys of Templeton Hall/^ 

While the roses were watching the moon, 
the flower-elf went on, and was just going 
to speak to the foxgloves when he heard 
two monster voices from the Giant World. 

And he listened, for he couldn’t help 
listening, the voices were so loud and 
harsh ; or so it seemed to him, although we 
would call them very sweet voices. 

It was Mary and Anna Templeton, the 
Doctor’s daughters, who were talking. 

^^Mary,” said Anna, ^‘I’ve got an idea. 
I want to make a mattress and pillows for 
Emily’s doll, and some of the bird-houses 
are just bursting with feathers. Let us 
All the mattress and pillows with feathers 
from the bluebirds’ house.” 

^^Oh, that will be perfectly lovely!” said 
Mary. 

‘^And let us have them ready for her 
birthday,'”' continued Anna, ^^and we’ll 
send a verse from the bluebirds something 
like this : 


20 The Elves of Mount Fern 

‘‘Dear Emily: 

Our feathers free, 

Without a fee, 

We all agree 
To send to thee!’^ 

“Won’t that be fun?” laughed Mary, 
“but who’ll get the feathers for us?” 

“I’ll get them myself,” replied Anna. 
“With a long stepladder I can easily reach 
the bluebirds’ house. This evening we’ll 
make the cases, and then tomorrow after- 
noon right after school we’ll get the 
feathers.” 

The flower-elf, who was getting more 
and more provoked every moment, could 
stand the conversation no longer, and flew 
swiftly back to Mount Pern in search of 
the dream-elf, to whom he repeated every 
word he had heard in the garden. 

The dream-elf was very indignant at 
the thought of the bluebirds’ house being 
robbed of its feathers by these monsters 
of the Giant World, and he said to the 
flower-elf: “She shall not rob the blue- 


The Elves of Mount Eekn 21 

birds’ house, for I’ll beat on the drum of 
her ear and make her dream a horrible 
dream!” 

^^You surely will?” urged the flower ^ 
elf. 

Without fail,” replied Slumber. 

The flower-elf rubbed his hands and 
laughed gleefully, and then ran back to 
his work in the garden. 

He spoke to the tall, pink foxgloves and 
told them that foxgloves were favorites of 
fairies all over the world. 

^^We are very proud to hear you say 
so,” replied the Foxgloves, ^‘for everyone 
knows that fairies or elves are the favor- 
ites of children all over the world.” 

Then the flower-elf bowed low, and 
passed on to the snapdragons, and asked 
them how they did. 

^^We’re impatient,” said they, ^^and can 
hardly wait for the morning. We don’t 
see why there should be any night when 
the day is so much finer.” 

really cannot agree with you,” said 
Iris-wing, ‘'for we Elves love starlight 


22 The Elves of Mount Fern 


and moonlight much better than sunlight, 
and so do some flowers, some birds, and 
some insects/^ 

Yes, but more flowers, more birds, and 
more insects love day than love night. 
We Ve really no patience with people who 
don’t love the sun. Of all living creatures 
we think the bee is the best, and she loves 
the sun.” 

‘‘And now, if you’re done,” said the 
flower-elf, “I think I shall run, for there’s 
work to be done.” 

When he had finished his work in the 
garden. Iris-wing called at the bluebirds’ 
house to tell him that hawks were abroad 
in the land. “And they’re human/ ^ said 
he, “but fear not, we’ll protect you.” 

At twelve o’clock that very night, the 
dream-elf flew through Anna’s open win- 
dow, and beat on the drum of her ear. 
And she dreamed, and dreamed, and 
dreamed. She dreamed she was in a 
strange and far-off land where the air was 
filled with birds, and there was such a 


The Elves of Mount Fern 23 

conunotion that it deafened her. She 
couldn’t believe there were so many birds 
in all the world, and some of them were 
so large and fierce that they terrified her. 

At last she saw some bluebirds coming 
toward her ; and they grew, and grew, and 
grew, until at last they were as big as 
cormorants. Then they threatened her 
with their beaks and screamed at her : 

‘‘You would take our feathers, would 
you ? Flint-hearted girl ! Cruel ! Cruel ! 
Cruel!” 

But here General Grosbeak appeared 
on the scene, and commanded the chatter- 
ing to cease. 

“This case,” said he, “must be tried by 
King Crest and his Council.” 

King Crest, as you must know, was 
King of Birdland, and he and his Council 
settled the affairs of his Kingdom. 

So King Crest and his Council called a 
meeting to decide what should be done if 
the bluebirds’ feathers were stolen, and 
after a long and angry debate it was de- 
cided that, in such an event, birds of all 


24 The Elves of Mount Fern 


kinds should in future avoid the grounds 
around Templeton Hall, and that those 
who were already there should vacate 
their dwellings. 

“I move an amendment,’^ said Colonel 
Claw. ‘‘1 move that Screech-owls and 
English sparrows annoy the Doctor’s 
family as much as possible, especially 
Anna.” 

^‘Colonel Claw, you’ll be promoted/’ 
said the King. ‘‘A very good idea! All 
in favor of this amendment lift the right 
claw.” 

At this, every bird lifted the right claw, 
and the motion was carried. 

When the Council adjourned, all the 
birds passed Anna in single file, and each, 
as he passed her, pecked her on the arm 
or the face until she was black and blue. 

At this point, the dream-elf, thinking 
his work well done, hastened back to 
Mount Fern. On the way he met Tono 
floating about on the wings of song. Each 
elf related what he had done since they 


The Elves of Mount Fern 25 


parted, and both laughed heartily at the 
fun they had had with the Giant World. 

‘‘And now,” said Slumber, the dream- 
elf, “won’t you sing the Swan song before 
you retire?” 

“I can’t,” said Tono, “to so small an 
audience, but I’ll drink your health in a 
glass of honeydew before we say good- 
night.” 


2 


The Lawn Pakty 

Early the next evening, Captain Feath- 
erweight commanded Iris- Wing to take a 
pitcher-plant and go in search of honey- 
dew for breakfast. 

^^And I’m tired of lily dew,” said the 
Captain, ‘^get clover honey dew— and I 
prefer the red clover to the white.” 

At this command, the flower-elf hurried 
off in the direction of the apple orchard, 
for it was only yesterday that he had seen 
fine red clover under the apple trees. 

After he had filled his pitcher-plant 
with the sweet red clover honeydew, he 
went into the rose garden to see how the 
roses were growing. They were all do- 
ing beautifully, and especially the Amer- 
ican Beauty Eose, who was very tall and 
stately. 

‘‘I’m so glad to see you,” said she to 
the flower-elf. “I’m^ feeling blue : it’s not 
26 


The Lawn Party 


27 


so very gay here, and we need something 
to cheer us up. Can’t you persuade Cap- 
tain Featherweight to give a ball and in- 
vite the flowers? I know he’s very hos- 
pitable or I would not ask it.” 

request from you is a command as 
well as a compliment,” said the flower- 
elf, ‘^and you honor us all in the asking.” 

So saying, Iris-Wing bowed low to the 
American Beauty Rose, and waved his 
hand in adieu. But as the flower-elf was 
leaving the rose garden he heard some 
one sobbing, and looking up, he saw that 
he was directly under Anna’s bedroom 
window. So up he flew and sat on the 
window ledge, for he wanted to know if 
her dream had made her change her mind 
about the bluebird feathers. 

Between her sobs she was telling Mary 
her dream, and when she had finished, 
she said: 

hate the birds! I won’t have them 
in the garden any longer! I’ll get Papa 
to pull down all the bird houses and chain 


28 The Elves of Mount Fern 


a cat to every tree ! I’m almost scared to 
death!” 

The flower-elf chuckled merrily to him- 
self, and started back to Mount Fern. 

When he reached the mulberry tree 
which stood in the middle of the garden, 
he heard a ‘‘Caw! Caw! Caw!” and look- 
ing up, saw Colonel Claw perching on 
one of the lower branches. Colonel Claw 
belonged to the Crow family, and always 
dressed in black. 

“Good morning. Colonel Claw,” said 
Iris- Wing. “Welcome to Templeton 
Garden ! How long do you expect to stay 
here?” 

“That depends on circumstances,” said 
Colonel Claw. “I’m on duty here; I’ve 
been sent to look after the interests of the 
bluebirds and to report to General Gros- 
beak.” 

“Then you’re doubly welcome, for our 
interests are the same,” said Iris- Wing. 
“May I offer you some honeydew? It’s 
red clover.” 

“No, I thank you,” said Colonel Claw, 


The Lawn Party 


29 


prefer grasshoppers and caterpillars 
when I’m hungry.” 

‘‘Shall I catch you somel” asked the 
flower-elf. 

“Thank you, no,” said Colonel Claw, 
“it’s my rule never to breakfast until five 
o’clock, and I prefer them fresh.” 

“Are you very hungry?” asked the 
flower-elf. 

“Yes, very/' said the Colonel, “but I 
belong to the army, and discipline must 
be maintained.” 

Then Iris- Wing bowed low to Colonel 
Claw and bade him good evening, saying 
that he hoped to see him soon at Moimt 
Fern. 

When Iris- Wing reached Mount Fern 
he found that breakfast was ready, and so 
all the elves sat down and drank the red 
clover honeydew which he had brought 
from the apple orchard, with some berries 
and nuts, which was their usual breakfast 
fare. 

While they sat at the table the flower- 
elf related all he had seen, and heard, and 


30 The Elves of Mount Fern 


done that evening. He told the elves that 
Colonel Claw was in the neighborhood, 
and had taken up his abode in the mul- 
berry tree. And when he repeated the 
conversation he had had with that gentle- 
man, Captain Featherweight commanded 
Lightning, the messenger-elf, to catch 
some grasshoppers and caterpillars for 
Colonel Claw just in time for his break- 
fast. 

“Give him my compliments,” said Cap- 
tain Featherweight, “and tell him that I 
shall give myself the pleasure of calling 
upon him tomorrow evening.” 

“And I saw the American Beauty 
Rose,” continued the flower-elf, “and she 
wants you to give a ball and invite the 
flowers. She needs to be cheered up. She 
isaid she was feeling blue, although she 
looked very red and rosy.” 

“One thing at a time,” said the Cap- 
tain, “for I Ve just decided to have a lawn 
party for the Elves of Oakdale, and Light- 
ning will carry them the invitations this 
very evening.” 


The Lawn Party 


31 


“Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern presents 
his compliments to Captain Acorn of Oakdale, and 
begs that Captain Acorn and his Company will favor 
Captain Featherweight and his Company with their 
presence at Mount Fern on Thursday next by the 
light of the moon/^ 

This was the form of the invitation, 
and Lightning carried it at once to Oak- 
dale. 

^‘And what shall I say to the American 
Beauty Eose?’’ asked the flower-elf, when 
Lightning had gone. 

^‘My best respects to the American 
Beauty,’’ said Captain Featherweight, 
‘^and tell her that it will give us much 
pleasure to entertain the flowers ; and that 
the ball shall be given two weeks from to- 
night in honor of the Queen of Flowers, 
which, as you know, is the rose.” 

Then the flower-elf departed for the 
rose garden to carry Captain Feather- 
weight’s invitation to the flowers, and be- 
fore long Lightning was seen in the dis- 
tance hurrying back with Captain Acorn’s 
reply, which ran thus: 


32 The Elves of Mount Febn 


^Taptain Acorn of Oakdale presents his compli- 
ments to Captain Featherweight of Mount Fern, and 
accepts with much pleasure for himself and his 
Company the most kind invitation of Captain 
Featherweight of Mount Fern/^ 

^^And now,’’ said the Captain, when he 
had read the reply, ‘‘we must prepare for 
our guests. The finest piece of lawn is 
under the great white oak tree, and there 
we will play skyball. Between now and 
Thursday I want you to pull up and carry 
away all the tall blades of grass, and beat 
down with our feet all the rough places, 
so that the lawn will be as smooth as 
velvet. 

“And, Lightning!” continued the Cap- 
tain, “we shall need new balls and mallets 
for the occasion, so go to the Dwarfs of 
Cavedale, and tell them to have them 
ready for Thursday next.” 

“Of what shall the Dwarfs make 
them ? ’ ’ asked Lightning. 

“The balls shall be made of purest rub- 
ber, the mallet heads of finest ivory, and 
the handles of blackest ebony.” 


The Lawn Pakty 


33 


‘^And how large shall they be, noble 
Captain r’ 

^‘Let the balls be as large as three times 
a sweet-pea seed, and the mallets as large 
as the stamens of the Tiger-Lily.’^ 

‘‘Iris- Wing, you shall have charge of 
collecting the nectar, as well as providing 
the fans for the party.” 

“And what shall we use for fans?” 
asked the flower-elf. 

“I think,” said the Captain, “the leaves 
of nasturtium.” 

“And shall we have music?” asked To- 
ne. 

“Yes, after the game we’ll have music, 
and you shall have charge of it, Tono ; I 
leave the selection entirely to you.” 

“And Owly,” continued the Captain, 
“please remember that you are not re- 
sponsible for the mistakes of our guests, 
for if I catch you correcting anyone. I’ll 
send you to Doomdell.” 

Now Doomdell is as bad for the elves as 
prison is for us, and Captain Feather- 


34 The Elves of Mount Fekn 

weight knew very well how to frighten 
Owly. 

And Rainbow, on account of your tact, 
I put you in charge of the whole affair. 
You must oversee the others and be sure 
that their work is well done.’’ 

The Elves of Mount Fern were as busy 
as bees all that week, and when Thursday 
evening came round they were ready for 
their guests. 

Captain Featherweight was always 
prompt, and if he had anything to do, he 
always got it done in time. 

When the moon was high in the sky the 
Elves of Oakdale arrived at Mount Fern. 
And after the greetings were over, they 
all sat down on fresh green moss-mounds 
which had been brought in for the occa- 
sion. 

Then Rainbow, who was master of cere- 
monies, commanded Lightning to pass 
around some apple-blossom honeydew in 
bluebell cups ; and after they had partaken 
of the sparkling nectar. Captain Feather- 


The Lawn Pakty 


35 


weight, arm-in-arm with Captain Acorn, 
led the way to Oaktree Lawn. 

When they were all assembled there. 
Lightning presented Captain Acorn with 
the choicest of the mallets and balls, and 
the play began. 

In Skyball the target is the face of the 
moon, and the player who comes nearest 
the mark, wins the game. 

Captain Acorn, as guest, had first play. 

Rainbow held his ball for him, and as 
soon as Captain Acorn called out ready,’’ 
Rainbow dropped the ball, which Captain 
Acorn with one tremendous swing sent 
whizzing olf toward the moon. Lightning 
followed the ball, and placed a stake where 
it fell. 

Captain Featherweight played next, 
and he was followed by Okla of Oakdale. 

Then it was Rainbow’s turn, and he was 
followed by another of the Elves of Oak- 
dale, and so on, until all the Elves of Oak- 
dale, and all the Elves of Mount Pern, 
had played. 

When the game was over they all flew 


36 The Elves of Mount Fern 


off to look at the stakes, and it was found 
that Captain Acorn’s ball was nearest the 
moon. 

It was a jolly game, and Captain Fea- 
therweight, who did not think it polite to 
win on his own grounds, was very glad 
that Captain Acorn was able to carry off 
the cup. 

It was only a simple buttercup, but, al- 
though they grew in plenty everywhere. 
Captain Acorn was just as proud as if it 
had been made of silver or gold, for the 
honor was just as great. 

When the game was over Lightning 
gave each elf a fan, and while they were 
resting and fanning themselves, he passed 
red clover honeydew in lily-cups. 

Then Tono and his orchestra played and 
sang some beautiful music. Their musical 
instruments were blades of grass, vdnd- 
flowers, Canterbury bells, and trumpet 
honeysuckles. 

First they played and sang : 


The Lawn Party 


37 


Moon and Stars 

‘^Said the moon to the stars: ‘You are 
always the same, 

And your lights are so tiny, I think them 
quite tame; 

You just twinkle and twinkle in red, 
white and blue. 

Have you noticed the wonderful things 
I can do ? 

“ ‘Sometimes I’m a crescent, a pale silver 
line. 

An arc of a circle— I think it quite fine. 

Then again I am round, with my face 
full of light, 

And everyone thinks me a wonderful 
sight.’ ” 

» 

“That is really fine,” said Captain 
Acorn. “Won’t you favor us with some- 
thing else?” 

“With pleasure,” answered Tono, and 
then he and his orchestra played and sang 
Three Crows, 


38 The Elves of Mount Fekn 


Three crows there were once who sat on 
a tree, 

Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee ! 

Said one ‘I should like to sail o’er the 
sea,’ 

Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee ! 

The other two looked so gloomy and blue, 

Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee ! 

Said they : ^ If you do, we ’ll surely go too, ’ 

Fa-lo, fa-la, fa-lee!” 

I should have said they tried to play 
Three Crows, for they had no sooner 
started than Colonel Claw, who was sit- 
ting on a branch of the mulberry tree and 
watching the whole performance, set up 
such a ^‘Caw! caw! caw!” that Tono was 
obliged to stop, the music and try some- 
thing else. 

After that they sang about the silvery 
swans, and Colonel Claw became quite 
quiet and subdued, for it did not interest 
him in the least when they sang of other 
people. 

Then Captain Acorn thanked Captain 


The Lawn Party 


39 


Featherweight for the game and the music 
and said it was now time to sing Oh, Joy 
to he Elves! This was the song that the 
elves always sang at parting. 

‘‘Oh, Joy to be Elves! 

To float on a breeze, 

And dance on the tops 
Of the tallest of trees ! 

Oh, joy to be fairies. 

And ride on a cloud. 

Whether the wind 
Blow softly or loud ! 

“Oh, joy to be Elves! 

To roam o’er the sky. 

And race with the swiftest 
Of birds when they fly! 

Oh, joy to be fairies! 

To sail o’er the sea. 

And care not a clover. 

What happens to be ! 

“Oh, joy to be Elves! 

The world is all ours : 


40 The Elves of Mount Fern 

The hills and the valleys, 

The fruits and the flowers ! 

The moonlight and starlight, 

The clouds in the sky. 

Oh, joy to be fairies! 

Good-bye ! Good-bye ! ’ ’ 

Then Captain Acorn and his Company 
bade adieu to the Elves of Mount Fern, 
saying that they hoped to see them soon 
at Oakdale. 

Thus ended the lawn party. 


3 


The Ball 

The next evening, at starlight, Captain 
Featherweight said it was time to begin 
preparations for the ball. 

“The ballroom shall be the soft velvet 
lawn under the Linden tree, and we’ll 
dance by the light of the pale silver moon. 
But we’ll have to provide ourselves with 
fireflies too, in case a cloud should cover 
up the moon. 

“So, Owly, you will please be diligent 
in catching fireflies between now and next 
Thursday evening, for I want thousands 
of them. So many flreflies, tied by gossa- 
mer threads to the lower branches of the 
Linden tree, will make us quite indepen- 
dent of the moon. 

“And Lightning,” continued the Cap- 
tain, “it shall be your duty to provide 
seats for the ladies, and I know of none 
41 


42 The Elves of Mount Fern 


more comfortable than fresh green moss- 
mounds. And well arrange them in a 
circle around the Linden tree. 

^^And Tono, you will of course have 
charge of the music, and I want you to 
invite the butterflies to accompany the 
orchestra.’^ 

"■‘The butterflies’ soft minstrelsy 

Shall tune our hearts to sweet accord, 
But beetles, wasps, and bumblebees. 
We cannot have, they’re much too for- 
ward. 

^Our berries, fruits, and honey dew 
Would disappear by magic sure. 

If we these creatures should invite— 
Their very names I can’t endure! 

‘*The flowers we’ll invite this time. 

And by the flreflies’ light we’ll see 
Their various shades of every hue. 

And all their gorgeous broidery ” 


The Ball 


43 


said Ehymo, who never lost an opportun- 
ity to make poetry. 

Aren’t you a little late with the last 
verse ? ’ ’ asked Owly. ' ' We ’ve already in- 
vited the flowers. If you must make poet- 
ry, why not try to make it in time 

^^Good poetry is always in time,” said 
Rhymo. ‘‘Just ask Captain Feather- 
weight if that isn’t so.” 

But the Captain was far too busy to pay 
much attention to Rhymo and Owly. He 
was thinking about the girdles. 

There is nothing an elf prizes so much 
as a girdle, and Captain Featherweight 
decided to have special girdles made just 
for the ball in honor of the flowers. 

“Rainbow,” said he, “and you too, Iris- 
Wing, shall have charge of designing the 
girdles.” 

“And see that each one is appropriate,” 
said Touchstone, “and since Owly is so 
very wise, let his girdle be made of Solo- 
mon ’s-Seal.” 

This pleased the other elves so much 
that they asked the Captain to allow 


44 The Elves of Mount Fern 

Touchstone to help in designing all the 
girdles. 

don’t think any one as silly as Touch- 
stone should have charge of anything,” 
said Owly. 

‘‘Have a care,” said Touchstone, “or 
your girdle shall be made of Nettles in- 
stead of Solomon ’s-Seal.” 

“I’m bored,” said Owly, “and I’ll just 
run away until the girdle question is set- 
tled.” 

“And what shall the dream-elf’s be 
made of?” asked Iris-Wing. 

“Oh, of Eyebright and Wake-Robin,” 
said Touchstone. 

“And Rhyme’s shall be made of Laurel 
leaves,” said Rainbow. 

“MTiy not of Poet-Asters?” asked 
Touchstone. 

But the other elves paid no attention 
to this joke, and Touchstone continued: 
“When it comes to my turn, I want to 
decide for myself.” 

“And Lightning, our swift-footed mes- 


The Ball 


45 


-senger’s girdle shall be made of the com- 
mon Speedwell/’ said Iris-Wing. 

^^And Tone’s shall be made of the Blue- 
bells of Scotland,” said Rainbow. 

^‘And mine,” said Touchstone, shall 
be made of the Jewel-weed, for a jester is 
always a jewel.” 

^^And Rainbow’s,” said the flower-elf, 
shall be made of the blue Forget-Me-Not, 
for he will always be remembered on ac- 
count of his sweetness and tact.” 

“And Iris- Wing’s shall be made of the 
elves’ favorite flower, the tall pink Fox- 
glove,” said Rainbow. 

“And now for our Captain’s! Three 
cheers for the kindest of Captains! His 
girdle shall be made of roses— to show that 
his Company loves him!” 

“Rainbow,” said the Captain, “I ap- 
point you Master of Ceremonies. You 
shall have charge of everything, and if any 
disputes arise, you must settle them. 

^ ‘ Right ! Left ! Shoulder arms ! ’ ’ 

This, as you know, meant, “Get to 
work.” 


46 The Elves of Mount Fern 


At this command every elf scampered 
off in high glee. 

Rainbow, Iris- Wing, and Touchstone 
went at once to Cavedale to talk with the 
Dwarfs about the girdles for the ball. And 
they decided that they should all be of 
finely wrought silver, except the Captain’s 
which should be made of pure gold. 

Owly went in search of fireflies and 
brought home hundreds of them that first 
night, for an elf can fly faster than fire- 
flies, and has no trouble in catching them 
if they can only be found. 

Lightning went in search of moss- 
mounds, and flew back and forth so swift- 
ly between Mount Fern and the soft 
woodsy dells where the moss-mounds grow 
that the very first evening he had almost 
enough for the ball. 

But when he showed them to Rainbow, 
he found that some of them were not fresh 
enough, or fine enough, or high enough, or 
low enough, or large enough, or small 
enough, or firm enough, or soft enough; 
and he had to throw half of them away. 


The Ball 


47 


and go in quest of more. Rainbow was 
very particular, and perfection was Ms 
law of life. 

So the preparations went on, and when 
Thursday evening came around the busy 
little elves had everything in readiness. 
And when the hour of the ball drew nigh, 
they were waiting to receive their guests. 

The Elves of Mount Fern looked beau- 
tiful that summer evening. All were ele- 
gantly dressed, and each was looking his 
very best, for the Dwarfs had taken great 
pains with the girdles. 

Captain Featherweight was dressed in 
purple and gold, because, as he said to the 
[other elves, kings and queens from time 
immemorial had always dressed in purple 
and gold ; and as he was the representative 
in Templeton Gardens of the King and 
Queen of the elves, it was only right that 
he should dress to honor his rank. 

Rainbow was dressed in pale blue, and 
with his girdle of Forget-Me-Kot and a 
white lace collar he looked more like a 
flower than an elf. 


48 The Elves of Mount Fekn 

Rhymo, the poet-elf, was dressed in 
white and green— and of course his girdle 
of Laurel leaves, which the three elves 
had designed and the Dwarfs of Oavedale 
had wrought. 

Slumber, the dream-elf, was dressed in 
silvery grey, and in addition to his girdle 
of Eyebright and Wake-Robin, he wore a 
Poppy in his hair, for the Poppy, as you 
know, is the emblem of forgetfulness. But 
it was only a silver Poppy, not a real 
Poppy of course, for the ball was in honor 
of the flowers, and all the flowers were 
expected to join in the dance. 

The Linden tree was a magnificent sight 
that summer evening, with its myriads 
of tiny fireflies twinkling like little stars. 
It was like giant candelabra in the centre 
of a ballroom, only far more beautiful. 
Ahd the lawn underneath was as smooth 
as the smoothest velvet, and at regular 
intervals there w^ere soft comfortable seats 
of fresh green moss-mounds. 

Rhymo saw the flowers coming and 
burst forth into verse : 


The Ball 


49 


last the gala night appeared, 

The moon was bright, the air was clear. 
And just at twelve from far and near. 
The flowers in couples did appear/^ 

Captain Featherweight was radiant in 
his golden girdle of roses. When the 
flowers appeared he and the other elves 
greeted them graciously, and led each one 
to a comfortable seat made of soft green 
moss-mounds. 

Then Rainbow gave a signal to Tono 
and the music began. 

The opening music was Welcome to 
Mount Fern! 

welcome to Mount Fern, 

Ye flowers bright and gay. 

Your presence would brighten 
The rosiest day; 

Your smiles and your sunshine 
Great happiness bring. 

So mortals and fairies 
Your praises do sing!’’ 


50 The Elves of Mount Fern 

Tono had composed the music and 
Rhymo the words, just for the occasion, 
and the beautiful flowers bowed their 
heads in grateful acknowledgment of the 
compliment that had been paid them. 

When the opening music had ceased. 
Captain Featherweight declared that it 
was now time to open the ball, and with a 
very low bow he offered his arm to the 
American Beauty Rose, led her to the 
centre of the lawn, and the dance began. 

^‘How beautiful you are to-night,’^ said 
the Captain. 

‘ ‘ That ’s because I ’m happy to be in such 
good company,” said the American Beau- 
ty. ^‘But I’m not always so happy, and 
lately I’ve been feeling quite blue. What 
do you think Doctor Templeton is going 
to do with the Roses % Why, only a week 
ago, I heard him telling his wife that he 
thought it looked more dignifled to have 
nothing but lawn in the front of the house, 
and that he thought he would move the 
Rose garden to the back of the house near 
the shrubbery. I don’t know when I have 


The Ball 


51 


felt so humiliated! I really don’t think 
I could stand it! Why, when I lived at 
White Oaks, I was the pride of the family, 
and was given the most prominent part 
of the garden, in front of the parlor win- 
dow. And every morning early, and many 
times through the day, Mrs. Chesterton 
came to see me. And she called me 
^Queenie’ and ^Beauty,’ and said I was a 
joy and delight.” 

^^And so you are,” said the Captain, 
‘^for everyone knows that the Eose is the 
queen of all flowers.” 

These kind words quite cheered up the 
American Beauty, and she blushed a deep- 
er crimson as she and the Captain glided 
away over the soft velvet lawn. 

Ehymo was dancing with a Pansy. 

^^Look at that Daffodil over there,” 
said he, ‘^see how gloomy he looks, and 
the Amaranth is trying to cheer him up. 
I’ll make a verse about him— if you are 
fond of poetry?” 

^Wes, very,” said the Pansy. 


52 The Elves of Mount Fern 


‘ ^ Then listen to this, ’ ’ said Rhymo, ‘ ^ and 
remember it, for it is worth remembering : 

Daffodil walked past in gloom. 

And a friar’s coat his form encased; 

He boasted Mediterranean birth. 

The lawn with solemn mien he paced. 

^‘The Amaranth took him by the hand. 
And whispered words of faith and 
cheer : 

‘Another glorious world awaits 
The spirits of our departed dear’.” 

“That’s beautiful;” said the Pansy, 
“but I don’t know anyone more sorrowful 
than the Hyacinth, and if I were Captain 
Featherweight I wouldn’t invite either 
him or the Daffodil to a dance. Isn’t he 
afraid they’ll spoil his party?” 

“He couldn’t leave them out, you 
know,” said Rhymo, “because all the 
flowers were invited; and besides, they 
won’t hurt anyone. And even if they 
should, Tono’s music would soon cheer one 


The Ball 


53 


up again. Shall I put the Hyacinth into 
verse for you?’^ 

Please do/’ said the Pansy. 

^‘The Hyacinth and Poppy next, 

Went walking side by side, 

The Hyacinth was sorrowful. 

His grief he could not hide. 

^‘The Poppy soothed him as a child. 
Told him his griefs were vain: 
^Forget your sorrows. Sir,’ she said, 

^ Their ev’ry pang disdain.’ ” 

“I declare I feel blue,” said the Pansy. 
^ ‘ Can ’t you think of anything more cheer- 
ful than grief and sorrow, Rhymo?” 

^Wes, indeed,” said the poet-elf. “All 
the flowers are more cheerful than the 
Daffodil and Hyacinth, and we ’ll not think 
of them any more. ” 

“Look at that vain Narcissus,” said 
the Pansy, “he always makes me angry.” 

“I’ll put him into verse too if you’ll be 
kind enough to listen,” said the poet- elf. 


54 The Elves of Mount Fern 


Yes, indeed,” said the Pansy, who was 
very good-natured. 

‘^You’re an angel,” said Rhymo, ‘^you 
are so appreciative.” 

‘^On the arm of a vain Narcissus, next. 
Was seen a Violet hanging low. 

Her modesty did but enhance 
His egotism all aglow.” 

^ ^ That ’s fine, ’ ’ said the Pansy, ^ ^ but sup- 
pose you lead me to a seat and finish your 
verses afterwards, for I’m beginning to 
feel a little tired.” 

When they were seated comfortably on 
one of the fresh green moss-mounds, a 
Tulip and a Lily-of-the- Valley waltzed 
past them, and Rhymo burst again into 
verse : 

^^The Tulip did appropriate 
The Lily-of-the-Valley sweet. 

With manly stride and bow profound. 
He led her to a vacant seat.” 


The Ball 


55 


^^Keep right on with your poetry,’’ said 
the Pansy. Don’t stop to give comments, 
but make a verse as each couple passes 
us.” 

^‘You’re the most delightful partner 
I’ve ever had,” said the poet-elf, ‘^you’re 
so sympathetic.” 

^^The beautiful Forget-Me-Not 
Was lover, true and tried. 

Of dainty Daisy innocent,— 

And he walked by her side. 

red Eose danced with a Lily fair. 

And he said as he whispered in her ear, 
^My pure sweet Lily, you are my queen, 

I love you, dear. I love you, dear ! ’ 

^‘The gorgeous Sunflower, bold and brave. 
Approached the shy, white Cyclamen—” 

But here the poet-elf looked hard at 
the Pansy, and saw that she was fainting ; 
so he brought her a drink of water, in an 
acorn cup, and begged her pardon a 
thousand times. 

^‘And please don’t tell Captain Feather- 


56 The Elves of Mount Fern 


weight about the poetry,’’ implored Rhy- 
mo, ^‘for if he thinks I’ve bored you, he’ll 
isend me to Doomdell.” 

Then Rainbow came along and asked 
the Pansy for the favor of a dance; and 
Rhymo, who saw no one without a partner, 
sat on a moss-mound and watched the 
dancers. 

The music was grand, and the flap ! flap ! 
of the butterflies’ wings beat time with the 
strains of the orchestra. 

The Elves were happy and so were their 
guests, for Captain Featherweight was a 
charming host, and even the Daffodil and 
Hyacinth were enjoying themselves. 

The flowers were truly beautiful, and 
were so light and airy in their movements 
that it was a delight to watch them. And 
they danced until the morning light 
dimmed the glow of the fireflies ; and then 
all the flowers, led by the American 
Beauty Rose, thanked Captain Feather- 
weight for the honor he had done them, 
curtsied low to him and all his company, 
and bade them adieu. 

Thus ended the ball. 


4 


Emily’s Birthday 

} 

At starlight the next evening the Elves 
of Mount Fern were up and about their 
business as usual. 

think/’ said the Captain, ^Hhat we’ll 
stay here for a long time. I like the 
neighborhood. I like the trees and the 
garden and the birds; and I think we’re 
just as well off here as anywhere else for 
the present. I’m fond of Colonel Claw, 
too; he’s a good fellow even if he is a 
crow.” 

” Speaking of angels makes them ap- 
pear,” said Touchstone, ^‘for here he 
comes.” 

When Colonel Claw arrived at Mount 
Fern he was cordially welcomed by all the 
Elves. 

^‘Have a perch,” said the Captain, ^^and 
make yourself at home.” 

57 


58 The Elves of Mount Fekn 

Eainbow thought of everything, and as 
soon as he knew that Colonel Claw was in 
the neighborhood he had the branch of a 
tree brought in and fixed in one of the 
cracks of the wall, for it isn’t good form 
for a crow to sit on a chair or a moss- 
mound. 

just dropped in to see if you intend- 
ed to celebrate Emily’s birthday in any 
way,” said Colonel Claw. ‘^It is only a 
week from today, and as the bluebirds’ 
house is still undisturbed I thought it 
would not be amiss to call a council of the 
birds in the neighborhood, and see if they 
would be willing to serenade her.” 

A! capital idea,” said Captain Feather- 
weight, ^‘for nothing adds so much to a 
festive occasion as good music. And I 
don’t know any music more delightful 
than a bird chorus. 

‘‘I thought myself of engaging the in- 
sect choir to serenade her, but before de- 
ciding that, I wished to consult you. I 
want the choir to perform in the eve- 
ning, and I wondered if the insects would 


Emily’s Bikthday 


59 


be safe from the Mght-Hawks and Whip- 
poorwills.” 

^ ^ They surely will for that one evening, ’ ’ 
said Colonel Claw,” for 111 send a car- 
rier-pigeon with a note to General Gros- 
beak this very evening. 

^^How will this do?” 


^^Colonel Claw presents his compliments to Gen- 
eral Grosbeak. He begs to state that Emily Temple- 
ton’s birthday is a week from today, and craves his 
kind permission to issue a proclamation to Night- 
Hawks, Whippoorwills, and other insect-destroyers to 
stay away from Templeton Gardens on the evening 
of that day, as it is hoped that the insect choir will 
take part in the celebration of Emily’s birthday.” 

^^That is excellent,” said Captain Fea- 
therweight, ‘^but do you think he will 
grant your request?” 

^‘Hell know,” said Colonel Claw, ^Hhat 
I wouldn’t have asked this for Emily if 
anything had happened to the bluebirds’ 
house.” 

Then Colonel Claw departed, saying 
that he hoped to be able soon to show Cap- 


60 The Elves of Mount Pern 

tain Featherweight General Grosbeak’s 
reply. 

After he had gone, the Captain called 
his elves together to decide what they 
should give Emily for a birthday present. 

move that we give her a violin, so 
that she can have music wherever she 
goes,” said Tono. 

A violin isn’t music,” said Owly, ^‘and 
how could she have music wherever she 
goes when she can’t even play a note? 
You’re so unpractical, Tono. Let’s hear 
a suggestion from some one else.” 

suggest a book of poems,” said Rhy- 
mo, ‘^and I’ll add some of my own. A 
book never gets out of tune, and is a con- 
stant source of delight.” 

^‘That depends entirely on the book,” 
said Owly, who didn’t at all approve of 
Rhymo’s suggestion. 

‘‘Don’t you think a bouquet would be 
nicer than anything else?” asked the 
flower-elf. 

“No,” said Owly, “because the house 
will be full of them anyway. That would 


Emily’s Bikthday 


61 


be like carrying fish to a fisherman. Can 
no one think of anything more suitable 
and appropriated” 

‘‘1 can,” said Slumber, ‘^for I dreamed 
only last night that Emily wanted a neck- 
lace.” 

‘^The best suggestion I have heard,” 
said the Captain. A necklace is just the 
thing, and I’ll send Lightning this very 
evening to the Dwarfs of Cavedale to ask 
them to have it ready for her birthday. 

“And Tono, you will please compose 
some music for the occasion, and Rhymo 
will make some verses to suit the music. 
Or perhaps it would be better the other 
way around, but I leave that entirely to 
you. 

“With the insect choir, the bird chorus, 
the elfin choir and orchestra, Emily’s 
birthday will be very well celebrated.” 

“Shall I make a verse to accompany the 
necklace?” asked Rhymo. 

“Not a bad idea,” said the Captain. 

“Shall I engage the insect choir?” 
asked Lightning. 


62 The 'Elyes of Mount Fern 


‘^That is my business,’’ said Tono. 
‘‘Anything that has to do with music, you 
will please leave to me. I’ll attend to that 
this very evening.” 

“Not at all,” said Captain Feather- 
weight, “not unless we hear from Colonel 
Claw. How would you like to have the 
insect choir devoured in the midst of the 
serenade?” 

Then the music-elf bowed low to the 
Captain in token of obedience, and said: 
“Your word is law, noble Captain.” 

“Eight! Left! Shoulder arms!” called 
the Captain. 

At this command every elf scampered 
off and went to work. Iris-wing went into 
the orchard to see if the bees that had been 
working there during the day had done 
their work well. But the flower-elf did 
not think so, and he called at the honey- 
bees ’ hive to say that he was not quite 
satisfled. 

The bees were very indignant that the 
quality of their work should be questioned, 
until the flower-elf explained that the 


Emily’s Bikthday 


63 


elves had charge of the growing of plants, 
and that he was responsible for Temple- 
ton Grounds. 

Captain Featherweight,” said he, ‘‘is 
veiy strict, and if I don’t make a good 
report I’ll lose my place and be sent to 
Doomdell.” 

“We understand,” said the bees, “and 
accept your apology.” 

“And then, of course, it may perhaps 
be barely possible,” suggested a sister bee, 
“that the work of the dying honey-bee was 
somewhat at fault. 

“The honey-bees were humming 
In a smiling orchard gay. 

They were working hard for honey. 

And were up since break of day. 

“Many trips to many blossoms 
Helped to fill the honey-sacs. 

And the richly powdered stamens 
Showered gold upon their backs. 


64 The Elates of Mount Pekn 

^^Said one sister to another: 

‘Why is it yon linger so^ 

Who will feed you in the winter, 

When the food supply is low'?’ 

“ ‘I’ll report you at the Homestead, 
And the Sisters shall decide. 

At the Council of the Bee Bread,— 

If you’ll longer there reside.’ 

“ ‘I don’t care for Queen or Council, 

I don’t care for hive or bees, 

I am weary carrying honey 

To the Homestead from the trees. 

“ ‘Cant you see my wings are shattered. 
And my flight is growing slow ? 

I am all in rags and tatters. 

And am ready now to go 

“ ‘To the land of blessed perfume. 

To the haven of the blest. 

Where all toil and care are ended. 

And the honey-bees have rest!’ ” 


Emily’s Bikthday 


65 


T!hese verses made the flower-elf very 
thoughtful— so thoughtful that he flew 
straight into Eainbow, who was flying in 
another direction. 

“Excuse meV exclaimed Rainbow; 
which meant, of course, “Excuse you!'^ 

And when Iris-wing recited the story of 
the dying honey-bee. Rainbow almost shed 
a tear— a thing that had never been heard 
of among the Elves of Mount Fern. 

Then Iris-wing passed on to the ver- 
anda where the Doctor’s daughters, Mary 
and Anna, were shelling peas for the cook. 
He felt very indignant whenever he 
thought of the bluebird, feathers, even 
though they were safe in the nest, for he 
felt sure that Anna still had the will to rob 
the birds. He wore his invisible cap, and 
could see and not be seen. 

“I’m tired shelling peas,” said Anna, 
“and I don’t see why the cook can’t shell 
them herself.” 

“You know Mother told us that she 
wouldn’t have time tomorrow,” said 
Mary, “and I think it is fun anyway. 


66 The Elves of Mount Fekn 


The poor peas have never seen the 
light except through a thick veil. They 
are really prisoners and we are helping to 
set them free.’’ 

You are always thinking of such queer 
things, Mary, that I don’t believe you feel 
about anything as other people do.” 

But Anna soon went to work with a will, 
and in a short time the peas were all 
shelled. 

‘‘I’ll take them into the kitcJien,” said 
Mary, “and while I’m gone, suppose you 
go after the clothes that we’re making for 
Emily’s doll.” 

In a short time they were both on the 
veranda again, and very busily engaged 
in sewing for Emily’s birthday. 

“What are we going to do for feathers 
for the mattress and pillows?” asked 
Mary. 

“Why, haven’t I told you?” asked An- 
na. “I asked Mother about it, and she 
said she had a pillow which she didn’t 
need and that we might have it for 
Emily’s doll. If I’d only asked her in 


Emily’s Birthday 


67 


the first place, I don’t believe I would have 
had that horrible dream.” 

When the fiower-elf heard this, he de- 
parted, for he had a great many things to 
attend to that evening. 

He wanted to see how the wildfiowers 
were growing in the woods nearby, for it 
occurred to him that although Emily 
might have all the cultivated fiowers that 
she wished for on her birthday, a bouquet 
of wildfiowers could not be amiss. So off 
he started in search of them, and when he 
was quite sure that he knew exactly where 
all the different kinds grew, he fiew back 
to Mount Pern. 

When he arrived there, he found that all 
the other elves were at home and were 
listening to General Grosbeak’s reply, 
which Colonel Claw had just brought over. 
It ran thus : 

^^General Grosbeak presents his compliments to 
Colonel Claw, and begs to state that it will give him 
much pleasure to issue an order to all insect- 
destroyers to avoid the grounds of Templeton Hall 
on the evening of Emily’s birthday.” 


68 The Elves of Mount Feen 


^^And now, Tono,^’ said Captain Fea- 
therweight, ^^you have my full permission 
to go ahead and do your best for Emily’s 
birthday. 

And Lightning, you may go now to the 
Dwarfs of Cavedale and tell them to have 
the necklace ready for a week from to- 
night. And let it be wrought of fine fili- 
gree gold,— in a dainty design of lilies and* 
roses.” 

After the Captain had given commands 
to all the elves as to what the duty of each 
should be for the following week, they all 
ran away and began to make plans for 
their work. 

^^Tono,” said Rhymo, want your ad- 
vice. You know I have to make a verse 
to accompany the necklace; how would 
this do? 

‘‘A necklace by the elves designed 
Of rose and lily intertwined. 

And by the Dwarfs of Cavedale wrought : 
A birthday gift to you weVe brought.” 


Emily’s Bikthday 


69 


may be all right,’’ said Tono ^‘but 
if I were you I ’d make several, and then 
let the Captain decide which he likes 
best.” 

very fine idea,” said Rhymo, who 
liked nothing better than making verses, 
‘^and I’ll compose something bright and 
gay, for we must not forget it’s for a 
festive occasion.” 

^‘I’ll just go now,” said Tono, ‘^and see 
that all the musical instruments are in 
perfect tune.” 

When Rhymo was left alone he busied 
himself with making verses that should 
be both happy and pleasing, trying first 
one rhyme and then another, and wonder- 
ing which would please Emily most. For 
Captain Featherweight had told him that 
the object of birthday parties was to make 
the owner of the birthday glad and happy ! 

When the verses were finished he 
brought them to Tono, who was busy 
selecting the insect choir and testing their 
voices so that there should be no discord- 
ant note. This was the insects ’ first lesson 


70 The Elves of Mount Eekn 


from Tono, and after a careful practice 
he dismissed them, saying, that the next 
rehearsal should be the following evening 
at the same place and hour. 

As soon as the insects were gone, the 
elfin choir appeared, accompanied by the 
elfin orchestra with their wind instru- 
ments, stringed instruments, cymbals and 
drums. And Tono took the verses which 
Rhymo had made and set them to music, 
and never before in all their experience 
had the elfin choir and orchestra received 
such a drilling and training. 

And at the same place and hour every 
night for a week, the elfin musicians came 
to the practice. 

Every elf was busily engaged in doing 
his best for Emily’s birthday, for if the 
Elves of Mount Fern undertook to do 
work, they always aimed at perfection. 

Lightning was busy in all sorts of ways, 
for whenever there was a message to send 
or an errand to run, the Captain always 
called on Lightning. 

Rainbow was a kind of court of last 


Emily’s Birthday 


71 


appeal before the time came for the final 
rehearsal on the eve of Emily’s birthday, 
when Captain Featherweight was to judge 
of everything. 

Colonel Claw, too, was busy all that 
week selecting the sweetest singers for the 
bird chorus ; for although he did not sing 
himself, but only conversed, he was very 
particular as to the birds he should ask 
to take part in the celebration. 

So he invited the musical Blackbird, but 
as he is a very great mimic. Colonel 
Claw warned him to be on his guard 
against imitating the rough and hoarse 
notes of other birds. He also invited the 
Bobolink, the Song Sparrow, the Vesper 
Sparrow, the Wood Pewee, the Indigo 
Bunting, the Robin, the Purple Pinch, the 
Vireo, the Meadow Lark, the Veery, the 
Hermit Thrush, the Bluebird, and all the 
Warblers who might serve as a back- 
ground or accompaniment. 

The Cedar Bird was Colonel Claw’s 
great problem, because, as he said, ‘^His 
voice is inferior.” 


72 The Elves of Mount Fern 


But he knew the Cedar Bird would be 
very much hurt if he did not invite him, 
and he knew too that Dr. Templeton and 
all his family were particularly fond of 
the Cedar Bird family. And so Colonel 
Claw was puzzled and perplexed, and he 
carried his difficulty to Rainbow and laid 
the case before him. 

Rainbow advised Colonel Claw to invite 
the Cedar Bird, ^^Por,’’ said he, ‘4t is to 
be such a gay and festive occasion that 
there should be no sad hearts in Temple- 
ton Garden. But tell him to be sure to 
sing softly, softly.” 

^^Dear sir, kind sir,” said Colonel Claw, 
^‘you are always so amiable, and your 
counsel so admirable, that I take your ad- 
vice ; your wish is my law. ” 

And so Colonel Claw invited the Cedar 
Bird, and he kept saying ^softly,’ ‘softly,’ 
so that there should be no mistake as to 
what was required of him. 

And all the birds entered into the spirit 
of the celebration, and came each day in 
joyous throngs to the practice. They were 


Emily’s Birthday 


73 


greatly excited all that week, for they had 
never before been asked to take part in 
the festivities of a little girl’s birthday. 
And they spent far more time than usual 
in preening their feathers and taking their 
baths, until they felt that they were look- 
ing their very best. 

The insects, too, were very particular 
about their appearance, and swam and 
dove in the pool of the fountain, and dried 
themselves in the sun so that there should 
be no particles of dust sticking to them. 

And on Thursday, the great day. Col- 
onel Claw, Tono, and Rainbow marched 
all the birds and insects down to the river 
for their final bath and preening. 

They used the surface of the water as 
a mirror. And when they were perfectly 
clean. Colonel Claw commanded all the 
birds to alight on the nearest tree to plume 
and arrange their feathers. 

And Tono, who had charge of the in- 
sects, told them to fiy to some shrubs that 
were grovdng near the river. 

^^When I blow three blasts on my 


74 The Elves of Mount Fern 


bugle,’’ said Tono, quickly to Temple- 
ton Garden and alight on the flowering 
hawthome that grows north of the mul- 
berry tree.” 

^^And when I give three caws,” said 
Colonel Claw to the birds in the oak tree, 
‘^fly swiftly to Temple Garden and alight 
on the tall elm tree to the east of the mul- 
berry tree.” 

Then Tono and Rainbow returned to 
Mount Fern, and Colonel Claw to his 
perch in the mulberry tree. 

Colonel Claw knew all about the birth- 
day party, for he had heard of it from 
the Elves, who in turn had heard Mary 
and Anna talking about it. 

He knew that after the guests arrived 
they were to have supper at the Hall, and 
that after supper they were all to come out 
to the garden and play games around the 
mulberry tree. 

The party was at eight o’clock, and 
precisely at eight Colonel Claw gave three 
loud caws to the birds in the oak tree, 
Tono blew three long blasts on his bugle. 


Emily’s Birthday 


75 


and as soon as these signals were given, 
the birds and the insects all flew away to 
the hawthorne and elm, near the mulberry 
tree. 

When the elves arrived at Templeton 
Hall they heard strains from a giant or- 
chestra, and the air was rich with the 
fragrance of flowers. They entered un- 
observed, for an elf has niany ways of 
making himlself invisible, and does not 
have to be seen unless he wants to be. 

Emily was standing in the middle of 
the parlor dressed in fine Persian lawn, 
adorned with blue ribbons. 

And soon the door-bell rang, and again 
and again and again, until all the guests 
were assembled. And they each wished 
Emily very many happy returns of the 
day. 

Then Emily led her guests to a large 
veranda all covered with roses and clem- 
atis, and there supper was served. 

The tables were covered with beautiful 
flowers and all kinds of fruit, and turkey. 


76 The Elves of Mount Fern 

chicken and tongue, hot rolls and hot bis- 
cuits, and brown bread and butter, after 
which came the ice cream and cake. 

And such a cake ! 

It was made in the form of a great big 
shoe, and lined with silver paper. In- 
side the shoe there were dolls and toys 
for every one of the guests, and a great 
big doll for Emily— just like the old 
woman who lived in a shoe ! And all the 
little guests said it was the nicest and 
funniest birthday cake they had ever 
seen. 

And as soon as supper was over Emily 
led her guests to the mulberry tree which 
stood in the middle of the garden. 

Dr. Templeton was prouder of this tree 
than of anything else in the garden, for he 
believed it to be a great-grandchild of the 
mulberry tree which Shakespeare planted 
at Stratford so long ago. And whenever 
there was company at Templeton Hall, 
Dr. Templeton always brought them out 
to the garden to show them the mulberry 
tree. 


Emily’s Birthday 


77 


On the evening of Emily’s birthday it 
was hung with Chinese lanterns from the 
top to the bottom— in all the gay colors of 
the rainbow. And around this beautiful 
tree, Emily and her guests danced and 
played games by the light of the lanterns 
until the birthday party was over. 

But just then a strange thing occurred 
—not strange to the elves, who knew all 
about it, but to Emily, her guests, and her 
Father and Mother. 

For Rainbow, the elf, appeared on the 
green and a daintier little gentleman never 
was seen. His blue satin coat, with silvery 
leaves embroidered in wreaths, his white 
silken hose and gilt-buckled shoes, and his 
blue Forget-Me-Not girdle, made an ex- 
quisite picture. 

With three very low bows he flew 
straight to Emily, and told her that the 
insect choir would be pleased to favor her 
with some music in honor of her birthday. 
Then Rainbow made a motion to Tono, 
who had charge of the insect choir. Tono 


78 The Elves of Mount Fern 

gave the word of command, and the fid- 
dlers, drummers, and pipers of the insect 
world appeared. 

The short-horned Grasshoppers were 
there with their bows and fiddles; the 
musical Cicadas were also there with their 
high- tuned kettle drums ; and the meadow 
Grasshoppers were playing: ‘^Zip, zip, 
zee-e-e ! Zip, zip, zee-e-e ! ’ ’ 

The pale-green, bashful Katydids, who 
are usually heard but not seen, were also 
there singing with all their might: ‘^Katy 
did! she did, she did, she didn’t!” over 
and over again. 

And the cheery crickets with their hap- 
py chirpings, sang: ^^Oheer-up! cheer- 
up! cheer-up!” 

They all sang and played most heartily, 
all in honor of Emily’s birthday. And 
when they had finished there was loud 
applause and cries of ‘‘More ! more!” 

But just at that moment Colonel Claw 
stepped forward, and told them that the 
birds also would be pleased to favor Emily 
and her guests with some music. 


Emily’s Birthday 


79 


A Starling, whom Colonel Claw had 
taught to make a speech for the occasion, 
stepped forward and said that as all the 
birds in Templeton Garden had been most 
kindly treated, and had even had fine, com- 
fortable houses provided for them, they 
wanted to show their appreciation by 
helping to celebrate Emily’s birthday. 

Then the Starling, bowing low, turned 
to Emily and added : ^‘In the name of all 
the birds of Templeton Garden, I wish 
you a great many happy returns!” 

So saying he returned to the elm tree. 
Colonel Claw gave the word of command, 
and the music began. 

The birds are the sweetest of all sweet 
singers, and the chorus was grand. It was 
a billow of song that rose and fell like the 
waves of a mighty ocean. At times no one 
voice could be heard distinctly; again, the 
flute-like notes of the Wood Thrush, the 
Purple Finch’s rich, melodious warble, or 
the beautiful trill of the Vireo could be 
heard quite plainly above the chorus. 

The birds were jubilant. Never before 


80 The Elves of Mount Fekn 

had they sung with so much strength and 
sweetness. And when at last the music 
died away in gentle cadences, Emily and 
her friends clapped their hands in glee, 
and said they had never in all their lives 
heard anything so beautiful. 

Then Tono, at a signal from Captain 
Featherweight, bowed low before Emily 
and said : ‘ ‘ The elves of Moimt Fern take 
this opportunity to express their thanks 
for their comfortable home in Templeton 
Garden, and beg that their choir and or- 
chestra may be allowed to take part in the 
celebration of your birthday.’’ 

Emily was very much delighted and 
said that any one was fortunate who had 
the elves for friends. 

So the elfin choir and orchestra fiew up 
into the large white oak tree that stood 
near the mulberry tree. And there they 
played and sang the music which Ehymo 
and Tono had composed for the occasion : 


Emily’s Bikthday 


81 


The Wish of the Elves. 

’Tis a festive occasion 
Which brings us today, 

To sing thy high praises 
In musical lay! 

Your life in its morning 
Dawns glorious and bright, 

With promise of sunshine. 

And gladness and light. 

May future years bring thee 
The gifts most sublime. 

Great courage and wisdom. 

And hope for all time!” 

Emily knew she had never heard any- 
thing half so wonderful. She told her 
Father and Mother that this was the 
most splendid day she had ever lived, and 
that she did not know how she was ever 
going to wait until her next birthday— for 
she thought birthdays were the very nicest 
days in all the year. 

Just as she said this, she saw Captain 
Featherweight and Ehymo coming toward 
her. The Captain carried a box, and she 


82 The Elves of Mount Fern 


Avondered if she were really going to get 
another present after all she had already 
received. 

Rhymo began to speak, and he recited 
the verse he had made for the necklace; 

‘‘The Elves of Mount Fern 
Are so glad to discern 
When a young girl is kind, good and wise. 
That they’re prone to reward. 

When her birthday comes roimd. 

With a gift that will gladden her eyes. 
Accept then this necklace of gold. 

And the wish that you’ll never grow old 
In faith, hope and charity. 

Truth in its rarity. 

Goodness and kindness untold.” 

Then Captain Featherweight took the 
necklace of fine filigree gold and placed it 
around Emily’s neck. 

And Emily felt like a Queen, and she 
told her Father and Mother that she was 
the happiest girl in all the Avide world. 

Thus ended the birthday party. 


5 


The King of the Elves Visits Mount 
Fekn 

Tlie next evening, while the elves were 
at breakfast, Lightning informed Captain 
Featherweight that the King of the Elves 
was coming to visit Mount Fern. 

‘^That is good news,’’ said the Captain, 
^ ‘ are you sure it is true ’ ’ 

^ ‘ Quite sure, ’ ’ said Lightning, ^ ‘ for I saw 
Okla of Oakdale, and he told me that the 
King is now visiting Elmsdale ; and from 
Elmsdale he’s coming to Oakdale; and 
from Oakdale he’s coming to Mount 
Fern.” 

‘‘That is really good news!” said the 
Captain. 

“And what shall we do to entertain 
him?” asked Eainbow. 

“Nothing at all,” said the Captain, “for 
when the King goes visiting he always 
83 


84 The Elves of Mount Fern 


takes his entertainers with him. He has 
his own musicians, his own jesters, and 
his own actors. 

^^The Eung does this in his own defence, 
for he isays it is a King’s privilege not to 
be entertained unless he wants to be. So 
we’ll only have to receive him. ” 

Shall I make a poem for him?” asked 
Ehymo. 

^‘Not at all,” said the Captain, ‘‘for he 
has his own Court poet, who is the best in 
the world, and if he wants a poem he has 
only to say so.” 

“Won’t we have anything extra to do 
before he comes?” asked the flower-elf. 

“Oh, yes!” replied the Captain, “and 
you especially. Iris- Wing, will be very 
busy, for the King is most particular 
about the care of plants, and if a single 
plant is neglected it makes him imhappy. 
So I want Templeton Garden to be a 
perfect bower of well-kept plants when 
the King comes to visit us.” 

“Shall I be asked to sing or play?” 
asked Tono. 


The King’s Visit 


85 


^ ‘ I should say not, ’ ’ replied the Captain, 
^‘for the King always travels with his own 
musicians, and if he wants any music he 
has only to say so.” 

‘ ^ And how shall we address him ? ’ ’ asked 
Slumber. . 

“As ^Noble King,’ ‘Your Majesty,’ or 
‘Your Eoyal Highness’,” said the Cap- 
tain. 

“If there is any doubt as to which he 
prefers, couldn’t we address him as ‘Your 
Royal Majesty’s Noble Highness’?” ask- 
ed Touchstone. 

“Silence!” commanded Captain Feath- 
erweight. “This is no time for jesting, 
and if any elf from this time forward be 
found guilty of jesting about the King, 
he shall forthwith be sent to Doomdell. 
This time I spare you, Touchstone.” 

“Shall I touch stone next time, noble 
Captain?” asked Touchstone. 

But as soon as he saw that the Captain 
was really angry that he should joke in 
this way about the prison walls of Doom- 
dell, he immediately got down on bended 
knee and begged the Captain’s pardon. 


86 The Elves of Mount Eekn 

And Captain Featherweight, who was 
anxious that they should all live in har- 
mony, graciously granted it. 

‘ ^ And O wly, ’ ^ continued the Captain, ^ ‘ I 
warn you not to be too clever. I should 
think Prince Prigio would be a warning 
to you. Don’t you remember how every- 
body hated him because he was so very 
clever and let everybody know it? And 
that it was only when he concealed the fact 
and seemed no cleverer than other people 
that they began to love him?” 

‘M’ll do my best,” said Owly, ^‘but if I 
am as clever as you say, it is my nature 
to be so and I cannot help it.” 

^^You can be clever and tactful, too,” 
said the Captain. “Take Rainbow for 
your model, and learn of him. 

“And if you ask a question of the King, 
you must say: ‘Your Royal Highness, 

may I be permitted to ask ’ and so 

forth. 

“But you must not say: ‘May I ask— 
your Royal Highness?’ ‘Your Royal 
Highness’ or ‘Your Majesty’ must always 


The King’s Visit 


87 


come before ‘I’ or ^ me’ when you are ad- 
dressing the King.” 

^‘Rainbow, as usual, I put you in charge 
of the whole affair. You must instruct the 
others in the proper etiquette for the 
occasion.” 

Shall I gather countless fireflies for 
the illumination?” asked Lightning. 

^^Kot firefiies, but glowworms,” said the 
Captain. ^^They are rarer and will there- 
fore do the King more honor. 

Ahd we’ll send to the Dwarfs of Cave- 
dale, and have them make a thousand sil- 
ver filigree lanterns to hold the glow- 
worms, and hang from the ceilings of 
Mount Fern, and from the branches of 
trees near our dwelling. 

^^And the floors shall be carpeted with 
the petals of roses; and the walls hung 
vnth. star-flower and forget-me-not. 

^^And the sweetest and freshest of 
honeydew must be collected, with the 
ripest and most luscious of the fruits, and 
the most perfect of the nuts. 

^^And now I think this is all I need tell 


88 The Elves of Mount Fern 


you, for, as I said before, the King will 
manage his own entertainment. 

Right! Left! Shoulder arms!’’ 

At this command every elf went to 
work. 

The flower-elf ran off to the mulberry 
tree in search of Colonel Claw. He found 
him perching on one of the lower branches, 
so up he flew and sat beside him. And he 
told him all about the expected visit of the 
King. 

< i Tliere is nothing the King so much dis- 
likes as an ill-kept garden,” said the 
flower-elf. ‘‘And so I have come to ask 
your kind assistance in a battle against 
the canker-worms, grubs, beetles, ants and 
other insects that eat out the life of the 
flowers.” 

“I’ll do my best,” said Colonel Claw. 
“I’ll get all the birds in the neighborhood 
to wage incessant warfare against all the 
enemies of the flowers! And I’ll begin 
this very hour.” 

“A thousand thanks,” said Iris-Wing, 


The King’s Visit 


89 


‘^you have my undying gratitude, and if I 
can ever help you, be sure I will.” 

Then the flower-elf bade adieu to 
Colonel Claw and went in search of 
Slumber. 

He found him resting on a bank of 
fern-moss, and told him that he wanted 
him to make the gardener dream such 
dreams as would make that lazy fellow do 
the work of his life. 

don’t know how you are going to do 
it,” said the flower-elf, ‘‘but it will have 
to be done.” 

“Leave that to me,” said Slumber, “for 
I am sure I can manage it. Think of the 
bluebirds’ feathers and doubt not.” 

“I trust you entirely,” said the flower- 
elf, “and I know that all will be well. 

“But now" I must go and see where the 
best honeydew is to be found. And while 
I am testing the honeydew I will just make 
a note of the nuts and fruits that I happen 
to see.” 

So saying he departed waving his hand 
in adieu. 


90 The Elves of Mount Fekn 


Lightning went to the Dwarfs of Cave- 
dale and ordered a thousand lanterns of 
filigree silver. 

Tono trained his choir and orchestra so 
that he would be prepared if the King 
should ask him to sing or play. 

Ehymo made verses all night long, for 
he did not want to be caught napping if 
the King should ask him for one of his 
poems. 

Eainbow was carefully planning the de- 
tails, and every one came to him for ad- 
vice. 

When the gardener had gone to bed for 
the night. Slumber entered his cottage 
noiselessly, softly entered his sleeping- 
room, and gently beat on the drum of his 
ear. 

And the gardener dreamed and dream- 
ed. He thought he was on a desert plain, 
and he was very thirsty— so thirsty that 
he did not care for anything in the world 
but water. His throat was parched; the 
sky was red; the grass was brown; the 
sun was scorching ! 


The King’s Visit 


91 


And there was not a drop of water in 
sight! There were no clouds in the sky 
to bring rain, nor a sign of moisture any- 
where ! 

J ust as he thought he could stand it no 
longer, a frightful hobgoblin with black 
wings and piercing eyes came hovering 
over him, and cried in a voice of thunder : 

^ ^You’re thirsty, are you?” 

i f i Thirsty, ’ ’ ’ sighed the gardener, ^ ‘ I ’m 
dying of thirst!” 

^^Go first and water the flowers; then 
you may drink,” said the goblin, as he 
flew up in the air uttering a horrid shriek. 

But the gardener dreamed again; this 
time he was starving; and there was not 
a scrap of food in sight, not even a grain 
of corn to satisfy his gnawing hunger. 

And when he thought he could stand it 
no longer, the same frightful hobgoblin 
came flying toward him, and flapped its 
great wings and cried ; 

^‘You’re hungry, are you?” 

^^Slo hungry that I’m fainting,” whis- 
pered the gardener. 


92 The Elves of Mount Fern 

first and feed your plants, and then 
you may eat, ’ ’ said the goblin. Then away 
he fiew and left him alone as before. 

But the gardener dreamed still again, 
and this time he thought he was in his own 
cottage. The walls of the cottage began 
to shrink; and the tables and chairs and 
everything else in the room began to move 
toward him. The windows shut of them- 
selves; the shades rolled down; the air 
grew close and stifling. 

And he couldn’t escape, for just as soon 
as he moved one chair away, another one 
took its place. 

The chairs and tables moved nearer and 
nearer; and the gardener was so weary 
that he wanted to sink on the floor; but 
there was not room, for everything in the 
cottage piled itself right up against him 
so that he could not move. 

The air grew thicker and thicker, and 
the night grew blacker and blacker, but 
not so black that he could not see the 
goblin coming toward him. 

And the goblin fiew straight to the gar- 


The King’s Visit 


93 


dener, flapped its heavy wings, and shout- 
ed at him ; 

^‘You’re cramped for room, are youl” 

“I’m dying,” said the gardener. 

“Then help the plants to live. Pull up 
the weeds, give the plants room, and you 
may live yourself,” said the goblin as he 
flew away in the darkness. 

At this point the dream-elf, thinking his 
work well done, hastened back to Mount 
Fern. 

“Some dreams,” said he to himself, 
“are good for a gardener, and I think 
this one will be.” 

Very early the next morning the flower- 
elf and Slumber went into the garden to 
see what was happening there. 

And lo and behold ! Colonel Claw was 
at work with a whole host of birds, de- 
stroying the insects that eat out the life 
of the flowers. Such a chattering you 
never did hear, for they sang and talked 
as they worked. 

A host of Warblers was destrojdng 
plant-lice, canker-worms, and caterpillars. 


94 The Elves of Mount Fern 

Catbirds were waging warfare against 
grasshoppers, beetles, and other insects. 

Swallows were flying hither and thither 
in search of insects, and catching their 
prey on the wing ; and each as he passed a 
friend or a brother cried out : 

‘‘Hurry up, there is work to be done!” 

The Flickers were ridding the garden 
of ants, and gaily they worked and well. 

And Sparrows were eating the seeds of 
the weeds, so that none might escape to 
grow up and choke out the flowers. 

All the birds helped in the work, and 
destroyed all the harmful insects and weed 
seeds. 

And this army of birds had just got to 
work when the gardener appeared on the 
scene. He came much earlier than usual ; 
and he fed and watered the plants ; and he 
weeded and spaded and hoed; and not a 
single plant was neglected. 

And early each morning Colonel Claw 
marshalled his army of birds to do battle 
against the plants’ enemies. 

And early each morning the gardener. 


The King^s Visit 


95 


too, kept on with his weeding and hoeing. 

So that the garden grew and flourished. 
The flowers were blooming with happi- 
ness, and they smiled and nodded their 
beautiful heads while they said to the 
gardener : 

^‘Dear sir, you are kindness itself.’’ 

And all the elves were delighted, espe- 
cially the flower-elf. 

Dr. Templeton, too, was delighted, and 
he and his wife came oftener than usual 
to walk in the garden and admire the beau- 
tiful flowers. 

One evening at starlight the Captain re- 
ceived a message from the King, saying 
that before a week would go by he would 
visit Mount Pern, for he planned to be 
there on Tuesday next at the full of 
the moon. 

At last the great night arrived, and the 
elves were all dressed in oak leaves in 
honor of the King (for the oak is the 
King’s favorite tree). 

And of course they wore their girdles, 
for on a great occasion an elf would no 


96 The Elves of Mount Fern 


more think of going vrithout a girdle, than 
a young lady \vould think of going to a 
party without her slippers. 

From the entrance to Templeton Gar- 
den, all the way to Mount Fern, the path- 
way was strewn with flowers and studded 
with arches. 

The first arch was made of laurel to 
show that the elves honored their King: 
the second was made of roses to show 
that they loved him: and the third arch 
was made of pansies to show that they 
always thought of him. 

The arches and shrubbery were hung 
with silver filigree lanterns, and the 
glowworms shone and shed their soft 
lights around. 

And Lightning, the messenger-elf, who 
had been sent out in the evening to watch 
for the arrival of the King, returned in 
great haste just at midnight to say that 
the King was coming— for the King’s 
herald had blown three blasts on his 
bugle to proclaim His Majesty’s ap- 
proach. 


The King’s Visit 


97 


Then the Elves of Mount Fern took 
their silver trumpets and blew three an- 
swering blasts as a greeting to all the 
King’s company. 

Two elves were stationed at each of 
the arches, and they bowed down on 
bended knee as the King passed by, and 
cried: ‘‘All hail, noble King!” 

And when the King and his retinue ar- 
rived at Mount Fern, Captain Feather- 
weight was there to receive them. 

After the greetings were over. Rain- 
bow and Iris-Wing led the King to a 
flower-throne which was made of the soft- 
est and sweetest of pansies. 

Then Rainbow took a golden goblet 
and bowed down before the King, and 
said: “Noble King, will you drink?” 

“I will,” said the King. 

So Rainbow took a pitcher-plant and 
poured out some sparkling nectar; and 
the King took the goblet and drank and 
refreshed himself. 

Iris- Wing bowed down before the King 
and asked: 


98 The Elves of Mount Fern 


“Noble King, will you eat?’’ 

“I will,” said the King. 

Then Iris- Wing took the freshest and 
ripest of nuts, and the most luscious of 
fruits, and brought these to the King. 
And he ate and enjoyed them. 

When the King had partaken of nuts 
and berries and nectar, he said to the 
Captain. 

“Captain Featherweight, I long have 
wanted to visit you and your Company, 
but duties of state have prevented. I am 
delighted with Mount Fern ! 

“Your home is a bower; your furnish- 
ings dainty and elegant ; and your fare is 
delicious. 

“Tomorrow we’ll visit the gardens. 
This evening we ’ll spend in quiet convers- 
ing, in puzzles and riddles, commdrums 
and puns. I love a good joke when I’m 
tired of aifiairs of the kingdom.” 

Captain Featherweight, bowing low, 
replied: “Your Majesty’s wish is our 
pleasure.” 

Then the King, looking up at the ceiling, 


The King’s Visit 


99 


was struck by the soft glow of the filigree 
lanterns, and asked the Captain what 
lighting he used. 

Bowing low, the Captain replied: ^‘The 
light of the glowworm.” 

The King was delighted and said that 
he himself had never once thought of 
glowv^orms, but had always used firefiy 
lanterns. Then he called his secretary and 
told him to make a note of the lighting of 
Mount Fern. 

After that he called his musicians and 
told them to set the lighting of Mount 
Fern to music, and this was the song that 
they sang : 

Sparkle, burnished lanterns, 
Silver lanterns ! 

What a lot of glowworms. 

Great and small ; 

How your lights are shedding 
Forth their radiance, 

Over King and Captain— 

And elves all!” 


100 The Ela^s of Mount Fern 

After the music the King called Iris- 
Wing and asked him what flowers he grew 
in the garden. 

“Noble King,’’ said the flower-elf, 
“there are pansies, narcissi and roses, 
rosemary and rue, and daffodils, lilies and 
daisies, and violets blue.” 

“That is well,” said the King. “Is that 
alir’ 

“Not at all,” said the elf. 

But just here Touchstone came forward 
and bowed down before the King and 
said : “Your Highness, may I be permit- 
ted to speak?” 

“You may,” said the King. 

“Noble King, there are blondes and bru- 
nettes in the garden.” 

“What! Blondes and brunettes, do you 
say? 

“Yes, your Highness,” said Touchstone 
“the brunette is Black-eyed Susan, and 
Blue-eyed Mary’s the blonde.” 

“ Ha ! Ha ! ” laughed the King. ‘ ^ I see, ’ ’ 
said he, “and what other strange plants 
do you grow?” 


The King’s Visit 


101 


‘‘What is seen on the western sky at 
sunset/’ answered Touchstone. 

“And what is that?” asked the King. 

“Golden-Glow,” said the elf. 

“That is bright,” remarked the King, 
“and what else do you grow in your gar- 
den?” 

“We grow animals, too, in the garden!” 

‘ ‘ What ? Animals, too, in the garden ! ’ ’ 

“Yes, your Highness,” said Touch- 
stone, “we grow the Bear-berry, the Tiger- 
Lily and the Dande-Lion !” 

“How true!” laughed the King, “and 
what next?” 

“A knave in church,” said the jester. 

“Very many, I fear,” the King agreed. 
“But what is yours?” 

“Why, Jack-in-the-Pulpit,” said he. 

“Ha! Ha!” laughed the King, “you’ve 
done well, and now I am most anxious to 
examine that wonderful garden of yours.” 

“Will your Majesty go to the garden 
now V^ asked the flower-elf. 

“I will,” said the King. 

Then Captain Featherweight and Iris- 


102 The Elves of Mount Fern 

Wing escorted the King all over the gar- 
den and grounds around Templeton Hall. 
And the King was delighted, and gave the 
Captain and the flower-elf much praise. 

“Yours is the best-kept garden I^ve 
seen in my travels,’’ said he, “and as a 
reward for your diligence, interest, and 
skill. I’ll give you, Iris-Wing, a girdle of 
gold. 

Now in Elfland a golden girdle is scarce- 
ly ever worn except by the Captain of a 
Company. And to be presented with one 
was in itself a great honor ; but to be pre- 
sented with a golden girdle by the King 
was a very great honor indeed ! 

Then the flower-elf bowed low to the 
King of the elves, and made answer: 
“Your Highness, you honor me greatly.” 

“Arise,” said the King, “you are 
worthy. I’ll have the girdle designed by 
the Dwarfs of the Court, and you and the 
elves of Mount Fern will come there to 
receive it one year from today.” 

When they had made a tour of the 
flower garden they went into the orchard ; 


The King’s Visit 


103 


and they found that the woodpeckers, nut- 
hatches and creepers had done their work 
thoroughly, for there was not a sign of a 
caterpillar anywhere, nor the eggs of any 
insect. 

The lawns too were just as well kept, 
for they were all smooth and velvety, and 
not a weed could be found. 

And the more he examined the grounds, 
the more pleased was the King, and he 
constantly cried : ‘ ^ Captain Feather- 

weight, I am delighted.” 

As soon as he had returned to Mount 
Fern he said to the Captain: ^‘Let your 
elves be seated around me on the soft 
rose-petals so lavishly strewn on the floor, 
as a carpet.” 

Then he told them all how delighted he 
was with his visit to Mount Fern ; and how 
much he enjoyed the birds, the trees and 
the flowers in Templeton Garden. 

^^And do not forget that a year from 
tonight you’re to come to the Court of the 
King of the elves, where the flower-elf 


104 The Elves of Mount Fern 

shall receive a golden girdle for work well 
done in the garden. 

‘‘And all the other elves of Mount Fern 
shall receive a prize for work well done 
in the Company. 

“And— as this is the best-trained Com- 
pany I have seen in my travels— I shall 
give you, Captain Featherweight, an old 
and priceless Egyptian amulet worth more 
than its weight in rubies. 

“But now I must say good-night, for 
tomorrow I’m off to the woodlands.” 

When the King had retired for the 
night. Captain Featherweight made a mo- 
tion to Slumber to go to the King of the 
elves, and help him dream pleasant 
dreams. 

Then Slumber sat by his bedside and 
helped him to dream this dream : 

The King dreamed he sat by a running 
river that sparkled and shone in the moon- 
light, as it rolled over the stones at the 
bottom in ripples of gleaming silver. And 
on either side of the flowing river were 
the softest, greenest, freshest moss-cov- 


The King’s Visit 


105 


ered banks ; while at a little distance mag- 
nificent oaks and elms cast their beautiful 
shadows beneath. And the birds sang in 
the tree-tops and carolled gaily with 
health and happiness. 

The air was cool and sweet ; the fiowers 
were bright and gay ; all nature was glad ; 
and the King of the elves was happy. 

And soon he saw coming toward him 
a chariot of roses drawn by thirty-three 
humming-birds, three in a row. 

The chariot stopped near the King, and 
one of the humming-birds bowed and said : 

Noble King, your Empire is all the 
world ; and we have come to take you over 
land and sea; over high mountains, and 
rocky billows, to the land of the rising 
sun. Arise and sit in our chariot.” 

Then the King arose and sat in the char- 
iot, and the birds flew ever onward— past 
snow-clad peaks and tall cathedral spires, 
past green fields and rustling corn— on, on, 
on through the bright clear air till they 
came to the land of the rising sun. 

And as soon as they entered there they 


106 The Elves of Mount Fern 

heard the blowing of trumpets and beating 
of drums, and a million voices cried : 

‘^Hail, King of the elves! Noble King 
of the elves!’’ 

And the sweetest flowers nodded their 
beautiful heads, and welcomed the King 
and cried: 

^‘Our noble protector, all hail!” 

The next evening at starlight the King 
of the elves set off for the woodlands. 
And Captain Featherweight and his Com- 
pany escorted him and his retinue far past 
the walls of Templeton Garden before 
they returned to Mount Fern. 

The End 






V 



